Detector



July 1 1930- e.. sAGuE 1,769,039

DETECTOR Filed Oct. 24. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lHumnnIHII NVENTOR 26 /3 george. 6a 9u e,

lm BY VTT KNEY July 1, 1930. G. sAGuE 1,769,039

` DETECTOR I Filed oct. 24, 1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 Zay %I I b 1N VENTO/e BY georg 6139MB afg/#ORNE 1%- f Patented July 1, 1930 UNITED srATEs PATENT OFFICE GEORGE SAG'UI?,` 0F OAKES, NEW YORK,` ASSIGNOR TO YGEORGEE SAGUE MFG. CORP., A

, CORPORATION" 0F NEW YORK DETECTOR l Application med `center 24, k1927'. `serial No. 228,379.

This invention relates to a device for detecting or measuring thethickne'ss of envelopes into which matter has been inserted, or matter which has been collected forl distribution, to determiner' if' they contents or amount is correct ;A that is ifthere are all bf a predetermined quantity in the envelope or bunch, and also if too lected.

The device may also be employedto measure the thicknessof any one or numberof fiat articles, and is not confined to mail matter, but may/have many uses.

While the deviceis primarily intended as an attachment for or to be incorporated into inserting and mailing machines for measuring the thickness of the illed envelopes or other containers before sealing and stamping to determine and ldetect any that donot contain the required amount of matter, and operate to at once stop the machine so that the error may be corrected,the device can be made in the form of a self contained` machine and have the envelopes or other matter to be measured `fed thereto by hand if desired.

In the operation of lmailing and inserting machineswhere a number of inserts or other matter to be mailedis collected together and inserted into an envelope or wrapper, it is very important to be sure that each envelope or wrapper receives the correct number of inserts, and not over or under thel predetermined number, and this should be detected `before the envelope is sealed and stamped, and the machine stopped so that the mistake can be corrected at once, as it would be diiicult to nd the defective enve` lope after the same had been stacked after sealing and stamping. t

The device is very simple, and yet may be adjusted to detect a very slight variation in the thickness of the filled envelope or other article to be measured, and is capable of ypositive action at all times.

The object of the invention is to provide means for detecting any defects in the fill- .,ing of mail matter, or the like'andf to at once indicate or stop the operation of the machine when such a mistakeoccurs.

many have been col-V f Another object being to detect any error or miss in the feeding or travel of the envelopes or wrappers through the machine.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a top plan view 4of a portion of a mailing machine,"to which the device `has been attached. A l

Figure2 is a front elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a detail side view of the device, showing the same in a normal raised position.V n

Figure' 4 shows the same in position for measuring a correctly filled envelope.

Figure 5 shows the same in position for measuring an envelope containing too few inserts.`

Figure 6 shows the same in position for measuring an envelope containing too many inserts. j

Referring to the drawings Part of a mailing machine is shown, and comprises the divided table or supporting surface 10, the envelope conveying means 11, supplied with the envelope grippers 12; and a shaft 13 designed to be rotated by some suitable means and timed with the travel of the envelope 14 through the machine, to make the detector device function once each time anenvelope passes it or is due topass under its detecting arm.

To the frame 15 of the mailing machine is attached the bearingbra'ckets 16 and 17, within which are mounted the rocker shafts 18 and 19, which are retained in placeby the collars 20rand 21.

On the shaft 18 is secured an arm 22, which is. provided near its outer endv with a transverse stud 23, andnear its inner end l with a pin 24; while integral with said arm 22 and depending therefrom is an arm or lever 25, which is in contact with a cam 26 which is mounted on the shaft 13; said lever 25 being held in contact with said cam 26 by the action of the spring 27, one end of which is attached to said leveri25l and the other end to some suitable place on the machine. v

Pivotedy on the stud 23 is a curved de-y tector arm 28, which is formed with the projecting end 29, threaded to take a threaded Contact screw 30, which is provided with a jaw nut 31; while near the rear end of said arm 28 there is provided a slot or elongated transverse hole 32 which embraces the limit pin 24; and the rear end oflsaid arm 28 is formed with a foot 33; and said arm is also provided with a spring 34, one end of which is hooked and enters a hole 35 in said arm, and the other end is held in a transverse hole in thelstu'd 23,andv also serves to retainV the arm 28 on said stud 23, and hold the Irear end of said arm 28 raised when the contact screw 30 is free to descend.

For providing a latch to be operated by said arm 28 there is mounted on the shaft 19 a bell crank comprising the two arms 3,6 and 37d; the arm 36being formed with a hooked end 38formed with a knife edge 39; and the otherA arm 37 having a roundedend 40 in contact with a cam 4l on the shaft 13;

said contactnbeing maintained by the springv 42 having one end secured to the arm 37 and the other end to some suitablepart of the machine.

The lower arm 37 is provided, with arde;-

' pending plunger 43 or other suitable device,l

which is designed to coact with the button 44 of an electric switch 4,5 whichcontrols the currentfor operating the machine, so

that when the plunger 43 strikes and *pushesl down on the button 44 the current will be tion, the operation ofthe device is as fol lows; the rotation of the shaft 13 through "the shape of the cam 2,6 will impart to the arm 22 a reciprocating movement and to the.L

contact screw 30 an approximately vertical movement; and as the two cams 2 6 and 41 are both secured on the saine shaft 13, the armsV 36 and 37 will be given a rocking movement, and by the position ofthe cams `the contact screw yis lowered into contact with said envelope, and the latch remains in the'same position as in Figure 3 as the arm 28 has not beenmoved on the stud 23 and the foot and edge remain abutting, but it will be noted that the arm 37 is not incontact with the cam 41. v y

Now referring to Figure 5, and assuming that the envelope does not contain the required amount of matter, the contact screw 30 when it comesinto contact with the envelope will be slightly lower than in Figure 4, thus moving the arm 28 on its pivot point and raising the foot 33 so that the edge 39 will pass under the foot 33 allowing the arm 37 and the end 40 to contact with the lowest part of the cam 41, and the plunger to come into contact and press on the button 44 to cut off the current and stop the machine.

Now assuming that the envelope contains too many inserts as indicated` in Figure 6, when the contact screw 30 comes into contact with the envelope, the end of the arm 28 will be slightly raised and by the action of the pivot will depress the rear end of said arm "28, allowing the edge 39 to pass above the foot 33,1and the end 40 of the lever 37 to Contact with the cam 41 and the button 44 to be pressed, cutting off the current and ,stopping the machine- It will thus be seen that as the arm 22 carrying the vdetector arm 428 is brought down as each successive envelope is, brought into position to kbe measured or gaged, that if the contents of said envelopeis correct that the latch will remain ina locked position with the foot and no pressure will be exerted on the` switch button,but if there are too mpanyory not enough insertsin the envelope, the latch and the foot will become disengaged and thelatehvwill; by its lowered position operate to press the switch button.

The contactV screw 30 may be graduated in any desiredmanner to show the ythickness of the envelope desired, so that the device may be set the same each time, or variations noted.

Having thus described my invention, what IV claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A detector for mailing machines or the like, andV in combination with mechanism for stopping said machine, means-for 1neasuring the thickness of the matter to be mailed, comprising a swinging arm and means for operating the same, a detector arm carried thereby, an adjustable con signature.

GEORGE SAGUE. 

